Dog breeds that can't swim

Ally Hirschlag is a producer/actor/writer who lives in Brooklyn, NY and buys way too many toys for her cats. She contributes to several publications, including Bustle, and The Nerve, and enjoys writing about all things woman. In her spar...

Keep French bulldogs and these other pups away from deep water

It is an unfortunate fact that not all dog breeds can swim. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson found this out the hard way when his French bulldog puppy, Brutus, sank to the bottom of his new home's pool.

Thankfully The Rock, who is essentially a living action hero, dived to the sinking dog's rescue and saved him in time. Brutus is doing OK, if not a little shaken. His famous human posted on Instagram, "He was a little delirious... took a moment, threw up all the water he swallowed and looked up at me as if to say, 'Thank God you didn't have to give me mouth to mouth!' and then ran off to play with his brother."

While the image of the fully clothed Rock diving into a pool to save a puppy is certainly a little funny, a drowning dog is no laughing matter. We'd like to make sure you're informed about which breeds are not natural swimmers, in case your pup is not in sprinting distance of a brawny rescuer.

Pugs

This adorable breed is best known for quirky snorts and a smooshed-in face. What makes pugs the comical canines we know and love also makes them a water-safety hazard. The short snouts can cause shortness of breath, which hinders this breed's ability to swim laps around the pool. However, they usually love a good game of fetch, so try throwing a few tennis balls for them instead of letting them try their paws at paddling.

Dachshunds

Much like their short-legged counterparts, dachshunds can be taught to swim, but they'll never be strong swimmers. With wee legs barely long enough to paddle, these playful pups prefer a variety of dry-land activities, including hunting, burrowing and anything that keeps them on the go. If your dog is hot and enjoys a summer cooldown, then water-filled toys and even a quick (supervised) dip in a doggy pool no higher than his neck should do the trick.

Bulldogs

Sturdy, dense and low to the ground, bulldogs definitely do better out of the water. They have turned-out, short legs, which makes paddling fast enough to support their weight a challenge. A poolside doggy bed with lots of summertime toys can provide a safer alternative for spending water time with your pooch. If your bulldog must get into the water, then make sure a helping hand and a doggy life preserver are around at all times.

Basset hounds

Holding the record for the world's longest ears, the basset hound was bred for land activities like hunting and tracking. With short legs and a dense bone structure, bassets will gladly sniff out a trail so long as water is not an obstacle. For cool summer bonding time without the water hazard, try freezing healthy snacks for your basset to sniff out. This will allow your dog's natural hunting abilities to shine through while getting rewarded with a cool treat.

Maltese

Cute and cuddly, the Maltese feels better sitting on your lap than treading water. While this breed is fully capable of paddling, other health issues may arise from water play. Because they are prone to chills, arthritis and rheumatism, taking your Maltese on a swimming adventure could worsen these common breed concerns. But that's OK, because they're much bigger fans of warm cuddling than cold swimming.

As we learned above, the French bulldog is more prone to sinking than swimming. While they are smaller, they have similar body characteristics to the full-size bulldog, which means dense, barrel bodies and turned-out, short legs, all of which don't make for good swimmers. You also need to keep a sharp eye on them if they're around water, because their boisterous nature could send them running for the pool, only to find they sink like stones. Don't learn the hard way like The Rock — keep your Frenchie on a leash around deep water. If they want to cool off, chest-high puppy pools are a great alternative.